In the weeks leading up to President Barack Obama‘s Wednesday arrival, Argentina’s attention has been on painful chapters in nation’s past – and unanswered questions about the United States’ relationship with one of the most repressive military dictatorships in Latin American history.
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President Barack Obama exits Air Force One at the global Buenos Aires airport, Argentina, early Wednesday, March 23, 2016.
President Barack Obama says the Islamic State group isn’t an existential threat to the United States.
At 19:00 the Obama couple will attend a dinner offered to their honor by Macri with 400 guests at the ex Kirchner Cultural Center, now called Bicentenary.
Obama is speaking Wednesday about the Brussels attacks during a joint press conference with Argentine President Mauricio Macri.
On Thursday morning, March 24, Obama will pay homage to victims of the “dirty war” by Argentina’s dictators against dissidents. The trip has been billed as an opportunity to expand economic and political relations between the two countries, but it also coincides with the 40th anniversary of the military coup that set off what’s known as Argentina’s Dirty War.
The United States announced last week it would declassify documents from USA military and intelligence agencies related to the dictatorship, a move aimed at soothing criticism over the timing of the trip.
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) – After years of anti-American posturing by its leader, Argentina has a new president whose outstretched hand has been eagerly accepted by the United States.
Carlos Osorio, director of the Southern Cone documentation project for the non-governmental National Security Archive in Washington, said other documents will surely have much more information about what US officials knew, when they knew it and whether they aided the repression.
Mr Macri, who campaigned on promises to overhaul the economy, would clearly rather spend his time courting the worldwide investors expected to come for Mr Obama’s visit.
Obama joked that he “may take some home”.
It’s a week of firsts for U.S. President Barack Obama.
Those distractions notwithstanding, Obama is hoping his final year as president will be one of critical progress for the USA and Latin America.
Even as Obama continues struggling with refugees fleeing insecurity and instability in Central America, his administration is working toward a historic truce between Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.
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Security measures include completely shutting down several subway lines, along with cordoning off streets where Obama will travel and around events at which he and First Lady Michelle Obama will participate.
